Over the past decade, a stepped-up government military offensive against Colombia’s two main rebel groups – the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN) – has prompted growing numbers of guerrilla fighters to desert and lay down their arms.
On average, 10 fighters demobilise every day in Colombia.
Since 2003, nearly 55,000 combatants from illegal armed groups have given up their weapons, including some 30,000 fighters from right-wing paramilitary groups, who disarmed during a peace process with the previous government.
The Colombian government says helping former fighters to return to civilian life is a top priority.
It runs a reintegration programme that pays ex-fighters a monthly allowance of up to $270, providing they attend school and or university, free psychological counseling and vocational training schemes.
Colombia’s reintegration process is regarded as an important step towards reconciliation and reducing the high levels of violence caused by the country’s five decades of armed conflict.
